EASTER TRADITION OF CANDY BASKETS MAKES STORES HOP

All these years, Peter Cottontail has been hoppin' down the bunny trail delivering his likeness in white, milk and dark chocolate, chocolate eggs, jellybeans, marshmallow bunnies and a host of other sweets.

The tradition, which was popular as far back as the 1800s in England when friends exchanged candy eggs, was in full swing Friday in Palm Beach County as many people packed malls and chocolate specialty shops looking for Easter candy.

"I ought to be in church. This is Good Friday," said Maureen Murray of Boca Raton, referring to the Catholic tradition of maintaining prayerful silence between noon and 3 p.m.

Instead, Murray and her daughter went on a candy-shopping expedition at the Town Center at Boca Raton.

Colleen Murray was expecting out-of-town friends, so she and her mother were having chocolate eggs personalized as Easter gifts.

"We're doing this for them because they won't be home to have a traditional Easter with their families," Mrs. Murray said, adding that she was filling one basket full of candy for her own family. The Murrays always continue the tradition of buying candy for Easter although the children now are young adults.

"I hope it always continues," Mrs. Murray said.

Patiently taking orders for personalized chocolate Easter eggs was Mary Bushouse, a sales clerk at Palm Beach Confections. She wrote names on the eggs with a funnel of icing.

"It's been so busy today," she said, smiling despite the fast pace. "It's been mostly older women who are buying for themselves. I can tell because they'll say, 'I like this and I like that.' "

Bushouse said she saw a number of pregnant women buying Easter candy.

Traditional choices, such as chocolate bunnies and jellybeans, are still the favorites.

"The bunnies are selling like hopping rabbits," Bushouse said.

Pre-prepared baskets ranged from $5 to $130 at the store.

One untraditional basket was being prepared by a woman who stopped at Pinch or Pound in the Boynton Beach Mall. She filled a heart-shaped basket with heart-shaped candies for a male friend.

"She was kind of hoping for a response to it. I hope she gets it," said store manager Paula Murray. She said that the store had to add on "double the help" to accommodate the extra Easter patronage.

At Chocolates by Mr. Roberts in Boca Raton, the Vienna-born proprietor begins making Easter candy up to four weeks before Easter.

He recalled delightfully his own sweet memories of Easter when he was young.

"In Europe, Easter is chocolate," he said.

Joyce Oakley of Boca Raton and her friend Mandy Rogers of Lighthouse Point in Broward County stood by the gourmet jellybean section at Bin and Barrel at the Town Center at Boca Raton where daiquiri and peppermint flavored jellybeans were among the choices.

"These are for my children, but I get the chocolate for myself," Oakley said.

Rogers said she makes up baskets "for friends who are elderly because my children don't like it."